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Sunday 12 October 2008

Phalarope the Grey

Blimey 2 posting in a single weekend, what has come over me? But this Sundays effort is a special one. Hearing earlier in the week that a Grey (or Red in some guides) Phalarope (139 for the year) was having a bit of a subjoin at Cheddar Reservoir, I popped down there early this morning to see if it was still entertaining the crowds from the shire.

Early morning mist didn't bode well for seeing this small wader, but it was picturesque enough as the sun tried to break through the mist. Anyhow I was faffing about with my digi-kit, trying to photograph some Black Headed Gulls, when this chap arrived at my left, mug of tea in hand and said,

"If you're looking for that rare bird, it's just outside the Yacht Club-House next to that boat. There are two chaps down there photographing it"

And so it was and so they were - blooming huge photo lenses, so I tried to hide my Heath Robinson digi-kit behind my rucksack and just did the best I could. And what a cracking little bird, didn't seem at all bothered by the small crowd watching it with more mugs of tea from the club house, not even when a dog splashed through. Or where they watching us twitchers thinking, what are they upto? Shut up BR, just let the photos do the talking (click to enlarge)

This is my digi-kit. slightly mad to set up but it'll do for lill' ole me. Follow the telescope to the waters edge and that pale bird is the Phalarope.

And what I saw through the lens.

this one refuses to rotate!!!





I like these two photos, as they show how small this Wader is against pied wagtails

But lets not forget in all the excitement, Cheddar is a nationally important overwintering site for Coot, 3-4,000 regularly come here. So to end this blog, birding and looking after wildlife is not just about the rare things, but also the common place....

........I wonder how many other birders who have come to Cheddar just to see the Grey Phalarope, even noticed the Coots?

19 comments:

  1. Nice pics Andrew - wish I'd taken my camera the other day when he was similarly obliging! He is on his way from Spitzbergen or Arctic Canada to somewhere in the midle of the Atlantic - pretty amazing for such a tiny bird!

    Stephen

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  2. Good to see you have joined the exhaulted blogging ranks at last Stephen. Yep pretty good bird, and anothe rlifer for me

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  3. I think that word was meant to be lifer?

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  4. Wow, great shots. You must be so pleased.

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  5. thanks oldcrow, not bad for an amateur with dodgy knees, sorry mean equipmant

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  6. Beautiful photos; it's amazing what you learn in blogland. Thanks for posting this.

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  7. Thanks Mrsl, that's the joy of blogs, we all post our interesting bits and pieces and then we learn from others. Great stuff

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  8. Nice one - and a lovely picturesque scene at Cheddar!!

    All for the coots too,

    Ed

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  9. Cheers Ed, we must all catch up soon. BR

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  10. Wow - great pics and great bird Andrew.

    (I'm a funny shade of green now)

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  11. No it was definitely a "Grey" phalarope Tricia. Thanks for the comments over my attmept.

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  12. nice one!!

    only ever seen one before and he was VERY distant and spinning like a good 'un

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  13. Thanks Pete, must admit it was a pleasure to be so close for over an hour. Lovely little bird

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  14. great pictures of a lovely little bird.
    Also love your Coots, and I doubt many will have missed them.

    It is the regulars which give us joy all year round. so local twitchers would have spotted them, but those from further afield? you might be right.

    I can never go passed any of the regular gang at the bay, I love Gulls as much as Herons or Egrets. They all fight for survival and need our help

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  15. Thanks Roger and Yoke. I agree Yoke, I get as much pleasure watching the antics of the Sparrows in the garden as I do a rarity.

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  16. Loved this post. Really made me laugh (the bit about you hiding behind your rucksack... I can't keep count of how many times I've done that!) I especially liked the phalarope climbing up the waterfall :) Jane

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  17. Glad to bring a smile to your face with my ramblings Jane: Best wishes BR

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  18. Very nice, the great outdoors.
    One can dream

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